A wood burning stove overheated and started a fire in a Tilehurst house yesterday evening.

A wood burning stove overheated and started a fire in a Tilehurst house yesterday evening.

A smoke detector alerted the son of the household to the danger and he put out the flames and called the fire brigade.

Dee Road and Caversham Road fire crews were called out to the semi-detached house in Minton Close, Tilehurst, at about 8.25pm.

Delta crew manager Robin Jordan, from Dee Road station, said the wood burner had somehow overheated against the timber joists and floorboards of the house and a fire had started in one of the upstairs bedrooms.

He said: "The smoke alarm alerted the home-owners son and he had put out the fire straight away, alerted us and got out of the house.

"The outcome could have been a lot different given another 15 minutes."

Crew manager reminded people they should have their chimneys and wood burner flues swept out at least once a year.